Fan films have a short shelf life — either they’re forgotten in the netherworld of the Internet, or they’re taken to court by the studios that own the franchises upon which they’re based. Either way, despite the fans’ passion for the subject, they’re often doomed from the beginning.

That was almost the case for a Harry Potter fan film that explored the origins of the immortality-seeking villain Voldemort, Voldemort: Origins of the Heir. A crowdfunded film that got started on Kickstarter, the project caught the attention of Warner Bros., who initially was resistant to the fan film. But a deal was struck, and a surprisingly stunning and well-shot teaser for the fan film was released.